Apprentice Scribe: An Inscription FAQ
by Eliah Hecht 
Oct 17th 2008 at 9:00AM
Inscription was just added to the game two days ago, but many people have it at 350+ already. Understandably, there are a lot of questions. In this post I will attempt to answer some of them. This post is aimed at people who are scribes, or are interested in becoming scribes. If you're just interested in how to use glyphs to enhance your skills, but not in making them, you may want to look into the glyph FAQ.
So what's this Inscription all about, then? Inscription is a new primary profession to make glyphs (permanent enhancements to spells), mostly. Scribes can also make scrolls, and for themselves, shoulder enchants and caster-oriented offhands.
What goes into making a glyph? Herbs, primarily. Lots of herbs. You mill them into pigments, turn the pigments into ink, and put the ink down on parchment to make glyphs.
What's the difference between a major and a minor glyph? Major glyphs make big changes to spells, minor glyphs make small ones. We have slots for both; you can't put a major glyph in a minor glyph slot, nor vice-versa. At level 70, we have two major slots, and three minor. At level 80, we'll have three of each.
How do I learn to make minor glyphs? As you may have noticed by now, Inscription trainers only teach major glyphs. Minor glyph recipes are obtained exclusively through Minor Inscription Research, which is on a 20-hour cooldown and produces random scrolls and vellums, with a chance to learn a random new minor glyph recipe.
Vellum? Ah yes, the other crazy-useful thing scribes can make. Vellums allow enchanters to sell their enchantments on the AH, basically. It goes like this:
- Scribe makes vellum.
- Enchanter buys vellum.
- Enchanter casts enchantment on vellum.
- Player buys enchanted vellum.
- Player right-clicks enchanted vellum to cast the enchantment on their gear.
There are different vellums for different types (armor or weapon) and levels of enchantment, such as Armor Vellum II. I hear vellums are a bit cost-prohibitive right now, but I'm sure it'll even out eventually.
Why don't the scribes just give the glyphs away? Yes, I've actually seen this question. A lot. The answer, of course, is that scribes are pumping a lot of money into creating the glyphs, both in terms of leveling up their inscription and in terms of the direct mats for the glyphs. Herbs aren't free, you know.
There don't seem to be any recipes past 350 that aren't green. That's true; it's not really worth it leveling past 350 at the moment, given that no recipes currently require skill any higher. Wait until Wrath when you have some new recipes to play with.
Any further questions on inscription?
Filed under: Guides, Inscription
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
noratul Oct 17th 2008 9:17AM
I've been debating whether or not to pick up inscription. Basically, the choice hinges on the unique, crafter-specific benefits it brings. I know that the extra glyph slot idea was scrapped some time ago in beta, but what's left? Special BoP glyphs? Shoulder enchants?
Docseuzz Oct 17th 2008 9:23AM
The biggest issue with leveling Inscription is the window from 290 - 300...
You can use up TONS of mats leveling up green recipes, or if you can find someone who's already done it, the ink made from Outland herbs is usable for orange recipes at 290... kind of a odd 'speed bump' for powerleveling inscription....
Grimstone Oct 17th 2008 10:42AM
When was that extra slot for inscribers removed? Didnt get that news...
Solitare-sp Oct 17th 2008 9:22AM
I have a question about this....
I assume at some point, there will be high lvl/rare gylphs which will become available (either via reputation or drops)?
sephirah Oct 17th 2008 9:25AM
Maybe:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=10972019197&pageNo=1&sid=2000#17
Balino Oct 17th 2008 9:27AM
I would like to know this too. Unless there are some incentives for mains to pick up inscription, it will be known as the 'alt' profession.
Fedya Oct 17th 2008 9:20AM
I wonder how will scribes make money?
Glyphs are not like enchants or gems that you need to replace with gear. We will buy most of the glyphs now and use them like... forever.
Shoulder enchants are fine, but have very limited use and there are lots of shoulder enchants already.
Dart Oct 17th 2008 9:22AM
Different specs require different glyphs. So each respec will probably need people to change glyphs.
(Talking mostly about hybrids)
Sarius Oct 17th 2008 9:29AM
That is until duel-spec. Which Blizz said would include two sets of Glyphs to be paired with the spec.
Moramor Oct 17th 2008 4:17PM
I don't think you going to be using glyphs for ever once you get them. I am leveling a druid, and took one gliph to benefit my cat form, and the other to benefit a healing spell. Both of these glyphs to make leveling easier, but definiitely not for the long run or end game where I would specialize.
Ichthus Oct 17th 2008 1:22PM
Darkmoon Cards, the Pet renaming scroll, Vellum, if they're an enchanter, they can assemble some of the lower level card decks and disenchant the rewards for mats. I imagine we'll start seeing shoulder and head enchant glyphs later on as well. Also, there will likely be alternative glyphs for certain spells which means that people may change that glyph out depending on what they need at whatever point they are in raid progression. A low amount of trapping will make a hunter swap out their trap glyph for a dps glyph. When they get into more trap heavy content, the hunter will probably swap back to a trap glyph. Besides, with dual-spec, everyone will need twice as many glyphs as they do now.
teetuss Oct 17th 2008 9:21AM
Can you have the same glyph twice? I havent seen anything about it. Glyphs arent unique, nor does it state anywhere, but i still doubt i could have say two glyphs of maul and have 3 targets hit with maul.
Dez Oct 17th 2008 9:32AM
You get an error message if you try and use the same glyph twice.
peagle Oct 17th 2008 9:35AM
I hope the answer to this is yes, because basically after you've done the minor inscription research enough times, everyone is going to have exactly the same glyphs on offer. Surely there will be rare drops or rep dependent ones to spice up the trade..
peagle Oct 17th 2008 9:36AM
@peagle
Damnit, that was in response to Solitare-sp below. WTS WoWInsider a better comment system.
wolfdust Oct 17th 2008 9:25AM
I love inscription. I missed out leveling a matching pair of professions as i leveled enchanting as i went up to 70 but i decided i wanted to use inscription with enchanting because of the vellum and the shoulder enchant. Its nice to have something profitable as people who want enchants are greedy buggers (they refuse to give u a decent tip or think your a dick when you ask for a fee).
So far i've made around 1800g from inscription and i've only leveled it to 230.
Teenie Oct 17th 2008 10:38AM
Wolfdust said, "people who want enchants are greedy buggers (they refuse to give u a decent tip or think your a dick when you ask for a fee)."
Amen to that! Give free enchants away to get that one point, and you end up with a leech for a friend that insists that all other enchant requests will be free as well - and they don't even bring the mats!
If anything needs an overhaul, it's enchanting.
/rant
Fedya Oct 17th 2008 9:23AM
Also, will there be some epic inscription patterns and what will they bring?
Engel Oct 17th 2008 9:32AM
Well, this is one of the reasons scribes are pricing so high. Figure within a week, the sales will die and prices will bottom out. Then with the second specs come there will be another, and maybe a wave sooner when people get the new must have builds set up, but over all I do not see this as a huge money maker over time. For me at least, I banked on a burst of profit at the start to justify the time involved [I prepped since it was explained how this would work], but did not expect much more than supplying my guild after the rush dies down.
I would wait say three weeks to even buy inscriptions if you do not have a scribe because with all the people pumping them out, sooner or later the law of supply and demand will kick in and you will see some being sold at below cost even.
Amaxe Oct 17th 2008 10:19AM
Actually one of the reasons prices are so high is that everyone is gouging herb prices to take advantage of the leveling inscriptionists.
When low level herbs sell for 30g+ for a stack of 20, something is wrong with the market, and the Inscriptionists have to jack their prices to keep up.
That and the low availability of the Minor Inscriptions will create a demand for them that are quite high, and thus expensive.
I got into the Inscription business on an alt mainly to ensure that the main had glyphs, but I have not had a Shaman minor yet, as the class is random (I've had priest and lock minors).
So basically, the issue is it will take awhile to get the Inscriptions you want and it will be expensive until the herb prices come down and the number of minors in circulation increase